Disney Science in Comics: Cities of Tomorrow

About the Author

Francesca De Filippi is architect and PhD, currently Associate Professor in Technological and Environmental Design of Architecture at Politecnico di Torino (Italy), where she also holds the role of Adjunct to the Vice Rector for International Affairs with a mandate for international scientific cooperation and experimental internationalization activities, and of director of the Research Centre on Habitat in the Global South. Her research interests are mainly focused on the design - at different scales - particularly in critical and vulnerable contexts with limited resources, of safer, healthier, more affordable and sustainable environments, settings and structures, including health and care systems; on the implementation of methods and technologies for frugal innovation; on the experimentation of methods and tools - also ICT based - to favour processes of social innovation, inclusion, co-design and co-production, involving and engaging communities, with particular attention to the most fragile users. These fields have been explored and experienced through international research and scientific cooperation projects, teaching activity, the participation to International Scientific Committees and along with professional work.

Dr. Chiara Anzolini is a Junior Assistant Professor (RTDa) at the Department of Biology, University of Padova, where she explores innovative approaches to science communication and public engagement, contributing to the National Biodiversity Future Center.

Professor Fabio Fracas is a physicist (MD, University of Padua, 1992) with competencies in Atomic Spectroscopy, Radiotherapy and Radiation Protection, Quantum Physics, and Quantum Computer Science (Ph.D. course, University of Pavia, 2019).

AnnMarie is a professor in the School of Engineering and the Opus College of Business at the University of St. Thomas. She is the founder and director of the Playful Learning Lab, which explores ways to encourage children, of all ages, to embrace playful learning. She and her students created Squishy Circuits. She is the author of “Making Makers: Kids, Tools, and the Future of Innovation.”

AnnMarie earned Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Caltech, and an S.B. in Ocean Engineering (with a minor in Music) from MIT. Additionally, she completed a professional certificate in Sustainable Design from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design.

AnnMarie co-founded and co-directs the University of St. Thomas Center for Engineering Education (CEE), which offers engineering courses for P-12 educators and conducts research on engineering at the pre-collegiate level. AnnMarie’s teaching covers classes on topics such as Engineering Graphics and Design, Machine Design, Dynamics (with Circus Lab), Toy Design, Product Design for an Aging Population, Technology Prototyping (for Business majors), Environmental Sustainability/Innovation, and Brain Machine Interfaces (seminar).

She served as the Founding Executive Director of the Maker Education Initiative, where her team established the national Maker Corps program and laid the groundwork for this nonprofit.

AnnMarie lives in St. Paul, Minnesota, with her husband and two daughters. She is an amateur aerialist, specializing in static and flying trapeze, as well as juggling and cyr wheel

Andrea is a journalist who’s been dealing with environmental problems for thirty years. Based on scientific studies, he invents books, games, educational workshops and summer camps to teach children to respect the Earth.